Disapproved/Approved by Deitch

In an effort to drum up publicity for the 'Art in the Streets' show that opens at MOCA next week, the museum has instigated a sticker campaign on the streets of Los Angeles where they offer stickers saying 'Approved' or 'Disapproved' by MOCA director, Jeffery Deitch.

The true name of the show should be 'Art Out of the Streets' because most of the artists showing have long left the streets, and the only thing on the streets are these lame stickers. The theme of these stickers is especially distasteful as it is a clear play on Deitch's disapproval and subsequent controversial buffing of Blu's commissioned mural from off the MOCA walls. Click the jump for more

The approved/disapproved stickers are not only lame, but supporters of street art should be furious at the gall the museum has to try and create publicity off of Deitch's censorship.

In our opinion, when Deitch buffed Blu he made a horrible move. A dickish move. And most of all, a hypocritical move. How can you pretend to show art in the streets, commission an artist, and then buff a wall when you don't like the content?

If these stickers had come from someone else, or some other source other than a museum it might be funny. But to make stickers to capitalize on the controversy surrounding Deitch being a dick is ridiculous. And in horribly bad taste.

The good thing is that the streets never needed Deitch's approval (or disapproval), and his show might have some former street artists involved, but it is neutered and a pale comparison to what is really happening on the streets.